Astrocytic mGluR5 and the tripartite synapse

A. Panatier, R. Robitaille
Neuroscience. 2016-05-01; 323: 29-34
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.03.063

1. Neuroscience. 2016 May 26;323:29-34. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.03.063.
Epub 2015 Apr 3.

Astrocytic mGluR5 and the tripartite synapse.

Panatier A(1), Robitaille R(2).

Author information:
(1)Neurocentre Magendie, INSERM U862, Bordeaux, France; Université de Bordeaux,
Bordeaux, France. Electronic address: .
(2)Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central, Université de Montréal,
Canada; Département de neurosciences, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128,
Station centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada.

In the brain, astrocytes occupy a key position between vessels and synapses.
Among their numerous functions, these glial cells are key partners of neurons
during synaptic transmission. Astrocytes detect transmitter release through
receptors and transporters at the level of their processes, which are in close
proximity to the tow neuronal elements of synapses. In response to
transmitter-mediated activation, glial cells in turn regulate synaptic
transmission and neuronal excitability. This process has been reported to
involve several glial receptors. One of the best known of such receptors is the
metabotropic glutamatergic receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5). In the present review we
will discuss the implication of mGluR5s as detectors of synaptic transmission.
In particular, we will discuss how the functional properties and localization of
these receptors permit the detection of the synaptic signal in a defined
temporal window and a given spatial area around the synapse. Furthermore, we
will review the impact of their activation on synaptic transmission.

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.03.063
PMID: 25847307 [Indexed for MEDLINE]